caronant

Colgate is one of the few schools that I'm really interested in, but haven't visited. What kind of chances do I have? It seems like an amazing school with a good balance between fun and academia

In terms of "standing out", I've definitely spent a lot of time in high school studying global human rights...i'm doing an independent study on it, ive done conferences about it, and i have a huge volunteer job with a biiig national anti-genocide coalition. its something im really passionate about, and I hope to emphasize that in my app...its probably not apparent from this list (sorry its long, you dont have to read the whole thing i know its boring!) but i know its something that my essays and college recs will all mention a lot

**My GPA is lower than one would expect of a student applying to top-tier schools, but that is because my school is incredibly difficult and has absolutely no grade inflation. The GPAs of accepted students from my school are always lower than the average accepted GPA of the colleges because colleges know how rigorous my school is.

Stat profile...sorry its long, its the one that college confidential provides!

Gender: Female
College Class Year: 2013
High School: Private

Academics:

GPA - Unweighted: 3.50 (upward trend from freshman to junior year)
Class Rank: top 10%
Class Size: 50
I'll have taken 6 APs (pretty much the max for my school) and all the honors classes available for my subjects

Scores:

ACT: 33 (hopefully 34 or 35 on the second try)
SAT IIs in June, SATs in the fall

EC's

Significant Extracurriculars:
-Class president (senior and freshman years)
-Part-time employment at real estate office
-Significant leadership position in prominent national anti-genocide coalition,
-Editor of school newspaper
-Photography Club
-Student admissions representative
-School representative on national diversity conference
-School representative on regional community service board
-Peer leader of Operation Snowball (local youth outreach group)
-Summer internship with an immigration justice organization

Leadership positions:
-2X class president (Freshman and senior years)
-Significant leadership position in prominent national anti-genocide coalition, organizing six states worth of high schoolers
-Editor of school newspaper
-Founder/head of school's first anti-genocide group
-Peer leader of Operation Snowball (local youth outreach group)
-Senior leader (American Youth Foundation)

Athletic Status - list sport and your level:
Field Hockey
JV Captain '07
Varsity Field Hockey '08

Volunteer/Service Work:
-Regional high school leader for a prominent anti-genocide coalition; I organize about a hundred or so chapters within six states
-Monthly volunteer work, serving dinner, at local soup kitchen
-Occasional volunteer work with mentally disabled children
-Community Service Club
-Regional community service board
-Youth outreach program (peer leader)
-Big Brothers Big Sisters (one year)
Honors and Awards:
-Scholarship for Excellence (merit scholarship)
-Academic All-State Field Hockey
-Leadership Award (American Youth Foundation)

College Summer programs:
-Accelerated academic program at Amherst College

gate13

Other than your GPA and where you rank in a small class, your odds I'd say are pretty good. I'd make sure in your application to really try and hit it home with all your EC's and your involvement with your anti-genocide coalition. What part of the country are you from? Are you planning on applying for financial aid? Don't apologize for your stat profile being to long, thats a good thing.

caronant

thanks! my school actually doesn't rank, i was just estimating top 5. im from the midwest and no, im not applying for financial aid.

ajayc

ED - Definitely in.

RD - Great shot!

Good Luck!

gate13

I agree with aj, I'd say your pretty golden.

caronant

thanks guys! anyone else have any thoughts?

sfreesh23

if colgate is truly one of your top schools then you should definitely consider applying early, as it is much easier to get accepted that way. if you would prefer to apply regular decision, i feel that you would have an excellent shot at being accepted. what other schools are you considering?

caronant

thank you! i dont think ill apply early because i havent visited yet and wont have time to until next winter, but probably regular decision. my other schools are bc, midd, davidson, dartmouth, (those are my top 4) cmc, kenyon, hamilton, scripps, conneticut college (those last two are a bit on the safer side for me, ive been told). im still looking though!